Gaming method and gaming machine accepting side bet

ABSTRACT

A playing method of a card game according to the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player&#39;s cards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker&#39;s cards; (b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) dividing the predetermined number of the player&#39;s cards and the predetermined number of the banker&#39;s cards into two sets of cards respectively; (d) determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of the player&#39;s cards divided into two sets and hands of the banker&#39;s cards divided into two sets; (e) selecting cards out of the predetermined number of the player&#39;s cards, when determining the game is tied in the step (d) and the side BET is placed in the step (b); and (f) determining winning or losing of the game by comparing the hand of the player&#39;s cards selected in the step (e) with the hand of the same number of the banker&#39;s cards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority based on U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/902,097 filed on Feb. 20, 2007. The contentsof this application are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming method and a gaming machineaccepting side BETs.

2. Discussion of the Background

Conventionally, there have been gaming machines capable of acceptingside BETs different from normal BETs. For example, in blackjack, when anupcard is an “A” card out of dealer's two cards, a player can place aside BET called insurance, in addition to a normal BET. In a case ofplacing insurance, the player adds the wager by half of an initialwager. When the dealer's hand is “Natural 21”, the amount twice thevalue of the side BET (insurance) is paid out. Further, for example, inCaribbean stud poker, a side BET is cumulatively accumulated as aprogressive jackpot. When a player places a side BET in addition to anante (a normal BET), he or she can acquire a part of or the entireprogressive jackpot, according to the established hand. A game capableof accepting side BETs of this kind is disclosed in, for example, U.S.Pat. No. 6,789,801, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,525 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,786.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming method anda gaming machine capable of accepting side BETs, thus exhibiting newentertainment.

The contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,525 andU.S. Pat. No. 6,874,786 are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda playing method of a card game having the following structure.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game is a playingmethod of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing apredetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealinga predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b)placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) dividing thepredetermined number of the player's cards and the predetermined numberof the banker's cards into two sets of cards respectively; (d)determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of theplayer's cards divided into two sets with hands of the banker's cardsdivided into two sets; (e) selecting cards out of the predeterminednumber of the player's cards, when determining that the game is tied inthe step (d) and the side BET is placed in the step (b); and (f)determining winning or losing of the game by comparing the hand of theplayer's cards selected in the step (e) and the hand of the banker'scards of the same number.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda playing method of a card game having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game is a playingmethod of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing apredetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealinga predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b)placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normalBET; (d) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards intocards for a first game and cards for a second game different from thefirst game in type; (e) dividing the predetermined number of thebanker's cards into cards for the first game and cards for the secondgame; (f) determining a result of the first game by comparing the handof the player's cards for the first game with the hand of the banker'scards for the first game; (g) determining the result of the second gameby comparing the hand of the player's cards for the second game with thehand of the banker's cards for the second game; (h) offering a payoutbased on the normal BET and the result of the games, when both the firstgame and the second game result in winning of the player; (i) restoringthe cards divided in the step (d) to the predetermined number of theplayer's cards, when the first game and the second game result indifferent winners; (j) selecting cards for a third game out of theplayer's cards acquired in the step (i); (k) determining the result ofthe third game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for the thirdgame acquired in the step (j) with the hand of the banker's cards forthe first game acquired in the step (e); and (l) offering the payoutbased on the inputted side BET and the result of the game, when thethird game in the step (k) results in winning of the player.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda playing method of a card game having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game is a playingmethod of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a firstpredetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealinga first predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b)placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normalBET; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cardsinto a second predetermined number of player's cards and a thirdpredetermined number of player's cards; (e) dividing the firstpredetermined number of the banker's cards into a second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and a third predetermined number of banker'scards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the second predetermined number of the banker'scards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the third predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (h) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and theresult of the determination, when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the player's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the banker's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (i) combining the second predetermined number of the player'scards and the third predetermined number of the player's cards togetheras a first predetermined number of player's special cards, whendetermining that the hand of the second predetermined number of theplayer's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of the banker's cards and that the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of the banker's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe third predetermined number of the player's cards, or whendetermining that the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of the player's cards and that the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of the player's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe third predetermined number of the banker's cards; (j) dividing thefirst predetermined number of the player's special cards into a secondpredetermined number of player's special cards and a third predeterminednumber of player's special cards; (k) determining which hand is thestronger of the two by comparing the hand of the second predeterminednumber of the player's special cards with the hand of the secondpredetermined number of the banker's cards acquired by the division inthe step (e); and (l) offering a payout, when the hand of the secondpredetermined number of the player's special cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the banker's cards and theside BET is placed in the step (c).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda playing method of a card game having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned playing method of a card game is a playingmethod of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a firstpredetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealinga first predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b)placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normalBET; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cardsinto a second predetermined number of player's cards and a thirdpredetermined number of player's cards; (e) dividing the firstpredetermined number of the banker's cards into a second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and a third predetermined number of banker'scards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the second predetermined number of the banker'scards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the third predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (h) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and theresult of the determination, when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the player's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the banker's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (i) combining the second predetermined number of the player'scards and the third predetermined number of the player's cards togetheras a first predetermined number of player's special cards, and combiningthe second predetermined number of the banker's cards and the thirdpredetermined number of the banker's cards together as a firstpredetermined number of banker's special cards, when determining thatthe hand of the second predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's cards and that the hand of the third predetermined number ofthe banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the third predeterminednumber of the player's cards, or when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the banker's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the player's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of the player'sspecial cards into a second predetermined number of player's specialcards and a third predetermined number of player's special cards; (k)dividing the first predetermined number of the banker's special cardsinto a second predetermined number of banker's special cards and a thirdpredetermined number of banker's special cards; (l) determining whichhand is the stronger of the two by comparing the hand of the secondpredetermined number of the player's special cards with the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the banker's special cards; and (m)offering a payout, when the hand of the second predetermined number ofthe player's special cards is stronger than the hand of the secondpredetermined number of the banker's special cards and the side BET isplaced in the step (c).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned gaming machine is a gaming machinecomprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; aninput device; and a controller. The controller is programmed to conductthe processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player'scards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b)accepting a side BET different from a normal BET from the input device;(c) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards and thepredetermined number of the banker's cards into two sets of cardsrespectively, based on an input from the input device; (d) determiningwinning or losing of the game by comparing hands of the player's cardsdivided into two sets and hands of the banker's cards divided into twosets; (e) selecting cards out of the predetermined number of theplayer's cards, based on the input from the input device, whendetermining that the game is tied in the processing (d) and the side BETis placed in the processing (b); and (f) determining winning or losingof the game by comparing the hand of the player's cards selected in theprocessing (e) with the hand of the banker's cards of the same number.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned gaming machine is a gaming machinecomprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; aninput device; and a controller. The controller is programmed to conductthe processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player'scards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b)accepting an input of a normal BET from the input device; (c) acceptingan input of a side BET different from the normal BET, from the inputdevice; (d) dividing the predetermined number of the player's cards intocards for a first game and cards for a second game different from thefirst game in type, based on an input from the input device; (e)dividing the predetermined number of the banker's cards into cards forthe first game and cards for the second game; (f) determining the resultof the first game by comparing the hand of the player's cards for thefirst game with the hand of the banker's cards for the first game; (g)determining the result of the second game by comparing the hand of theplayer's cards for the second game with the hand of the banker's cardsfor the second game; (h) offering a payout based on the inputted normalBET and the result of the games, when both the first game and the secondgame result in winning of the player; (i) restoring the cards divided inthe processing (d) to the predetermined number of the player's cards,when the first game and the second game result in different winners; (j)selecting cards for a third game out of the player's cards acquired inthe processing (i), based on the input from the input device; (k)determining the result of the third game by comparing the hand of theplayer's cards for the third game acquired in the processing (j) withthe hand of the banker's cards for the first game acquired in theprocessing (e); and (l) offering a payout based on the inputted side BETand the result of the game, when the third game in the processing (k)results in winning of the player.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned gaming machine is a gaming machinecomprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; anormal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BET switch forinputting a side BET different from the normal BET; an input switch forinputting a command for dividing cards into two sets; and a controller.The controller is programmed to conduct the processing of: (a)displaying a first predetermined number of player's cards and a firstpredetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b) accepting aninput of a normal BET from the normal BET switch; (c) accepting an inputof a side BET from the side BET switch; (d) dividing the firstpredetermined number of the player's cards into a second predeterminednumber of player's cards and a third predetermined number of player'scards, based on an input from the input switch; (e) dividing the firstpredetermined number of the banker's cards into a second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and a third predetermined number of banker'scards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the second predetermined number of the banker'scards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the third predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (h) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and theresult of the determination, when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the player's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the banker's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (i) combining the second predetermined number of the player'scards and the third predetermined number of the player's cards togetheras a first predetermined number of player's special cards, whendetermining that the hand of the second predetermined number of theplayer's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of the banker's cards and that the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of the banker's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe third predetermined number of the player's cards, or whendetermining that the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of the player's cards and that the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of the player's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe third predetermined number of the banker's cards; (j) dividing thefirst predetermined number of the player's special cards into a secondpredetermined number of player's special cards and a third predeterminednumber of player's special cards, based on the input from the inputswitch; (k) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of the player'sspecial cards with the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's cards acquired by the division in the processing (e); and (l)offering the payout, when the hand of the second predetermined number ofthe player's special cards is stronger than the hand of the secondpredetermined number of the banker's cards and the side BET is inputtedin the processing (c).

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a gaming machine having the following structures.

Namely, the above mentioned gaming machine is a gaming machinecomprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; anormal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BET switch forinputting a side BET different from the normal BET; an input switch forinputting a command for dividing cards into two sets; and a controller.The controller is programmed to conduct the processing of: (a)displaying a first predetermined number of player's cards and a firstpredetermined number of banker's cards to the display; (b) accepting aninput of a normal BET from the normal BET switch; (c) accepting an inputof a side BET from the side BET switch; (d) dividing the firstpredetermined number of the player's cards into a second predeterminednumber of player's cards and a third predetermined number of player'scards, based on an input from the input switch; (e) dividing the firstpredetermined number of the banker's cards into a second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and a third predetermined number of banker'scards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the second predetermined number of the banker'scards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the third predetermined number of the player'scards with the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (h) offering a payout based on the inputted normal BET and theresult of the determination, when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the player's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the banker's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (i) combining the second predetermined number of the player'scards and the third predetermined number of the player's cards togetheras a first predetermined number of player's special cards, and combiningthe second predetermined number of the banker's cards and the thirdpredetermined number of the banker's cards together as a firstpredetermined number of banker's special cards, when determining thatthe hand of the second predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's cards and that the hand of the third predetermined number ofthe banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the third predeterminednumber of the player's cards, or when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of the banker's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of the player's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of the player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of the banker'scards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of the player'sspecial cards into a second predetermined number of player's specialcards and a third predetermined number of player's special cards, basedon the input from the input switch; (k) dividing the first predeterminednumber of the banker's special cards into a second predetermined numberof banker's special cards and a third predetermined number of banker'sspecial cards; (l) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of the player'sspecial cards with the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's special cards; and (m) offering the payout, when the hand ofthe second predetermined number of the player's special cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of thebanker's special cards and the side BET is inputted in the processing(c).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-sideprocessing conducted in a main control portion included in a gamingmachine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is another flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-sideprocessing conducted in the main control portion included in the gamingmachine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the externalstructure of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the externalstructure of a station included in the gaming machine illustrated inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to afront display included in the gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to aliquid crystal display included in a station.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of thegaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of astation included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8A is a flow chart illustrating a subroutine of station-sideprocessing conducted in a station according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8B is another flow chart illustrating a subroutine of station-sideprocessing conducted in the station according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9A is a flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-sideprocessing conducted in a main control portion included in a gamingmachine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9B is another flow chart illustrating main-control-portion-sideprocessing conducted in the main control portion included in the gamingmachine according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

There will be described an embodiment of the present invention withreference to the drawings.

In the following embodiment, there will be described a case wherePai-Gow poker is played. First, the rule of Pai-Gow poker will bedescribed.

In Pai-Gow poker, a banker, and a single player or a plurality ofplayers play a game against each other, using a single set of playingcards (53 cards) including a single joker.

At first, 7 cards are dealt to each of the banker and the players. Thebanker and the players divide their dealt seven cards into a set of fivecards and a set of two cards. At this time, the hand of five cards (ahigh hand) must be as strong as the hand of two cards (the low hand) orstronger than the hand of two cards. Next, by comparing the banker'shand of five cards with the player's hand of five cards, which of themis stronger than the other is determined. Similarly, by comparing thebanker's hand of two cards and the player's hand of two cards, which ofthem is stronger than the other is determined. When both the banker'shands of five cards and two cards are stronger than those of theplayer's, the game results in winning of the banker. When both theplayer's hands of five cards and two cards are stronger than those ofthe banker's, the game results in winning of the player. When oneplayer's hand, out of the hands of five cards and two cards, is strongerthan the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker's hands isstronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied. Also,when both the player's hands of five cards and two cards are as strongas the banker's hands, the game results in winning of the banker.Further, as hands of five cards, there are Royal Flush, Straight Flush,Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two pair,One pair and No Pair, in the order of strength. As hands of two cards,there are One Pair and No Pair, in the order of strength.

In the following embodiments, Pai-Gow poker is played twice, wherein, anormal BET and a side BET are accepted. Here, a normal BET is a BETplaced on the winning or losing of Pai-Gow poker, while a side BET is aBET placed on a game which is played in the event that both the twogames of Pai-Gow poker are tied. When both of the two games of Pai-Gowpoker are tied, on condition that the side BET is placed, the player'scards are divided into five cards and two cards again, and the player'shand of five cards is compared with the banker's hand of five cards.When the hand of player's cards is stronger than the banker's hand, apayout is offered. Further, in the following embodiment, there will bedescribed a case where a dealer serves as a banker.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flow charts illustrating main-control-portion-sideprocessing conducted in a main control portion included in a gamingmachine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, there will be described processing conducted in the main controlportion 40 (see FIG. 6) included in the gaming machine 1 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

At first, in step S101 in FIG. 1A, when a CPU 41 (see FIG. 6) includedin the main control portion 40 receives a signal indicative of executingPai-Gow poker from any of stations 3 (see FIG. 2), the CPU 41 sets thevalue of ‘t’ to 2 for counting the number of ties.

Next, in step S102, the CPU 41 receives BET information from the station3 (see FIG. 2). The BET information relates to BETs and includesinformation about whether or not a normal BET and a side BET are placedand the values of the normal BET and the side BET.

Next, in step S103, the CPU 41 determines seven cards to be dealt toeach of the player and the banker, out of a single set of playing cards,using random numbers. The seven cards determined to be dealt to theplayer in step S103 corresponds to a first predetermined number ofplayer's cards according to the present invention, while the seven cardsdetermined to be dealt to the banker corresponds to a firstpredetermined number of banker's cards according to the presentinvention. Further, card images indicative of the seven banker's cardsare displayed facing down to a front display 21 (see FIG. 2) included inthe gaming machine 1.

Next, in step S104, the CPU 41 transmits to-be-dealt cards informationto the station 3. The to-be-dealt cards information includes informationindicative of the types of the cards determined to be dealt to theplayer and the banker (ranks and suits [heart, club, spade, diamond]).The station 3 displays card images indicative of the seven player'scards to a liquid crystal display 10, based on the received to-be-dealtcards information, and accepts an input for dividing the cards into aset of five cards (a high hand) and a set of two cards (a low hand). Thefive player's cards, out of the player's cards divided into two sets bythe division command inputted by the player, correspond to a secondpredetermined number of player's cards according to the presentinvention, while the two player's cards correspond to a thirdpredetermined number of player's cards according to the presentinvention.

Next, in step S105, the CPU 41 receives selection information from thestation 3. The selection information is information indicating whichcards are selected as the high hand and which cards are selected as thelow hand.

Next, in step S106, the CPU 41 conducts processing for dividing thecards dealt to the banker into a high hand and a low hand. The high hand(five banker's cards) acquired in the processing in step S106corresponds to a second predetermined number of banker's cards accordingto the present invention, while the low hand (two banker's cards)corresponds to a third predetermined number of banker's cards accordingto the present invention.

Next, in step S107, the CPU 41 displays card images indicative of thehigh hand and the low hand determined in step S106 with their faces up,to the front display 21.

Next, in step S108, the CPU 41 conducts processing for determiningwinning or losing of the game, based on the selection informationreceived in step S105 and the high hand and the low hand determined instep S106. More specifically, the CPU 41 determines winning or losing ofthe game based on the results of determination, in which the CPU 41determines which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing theplayer's high hand with the banker's high hand and the player's low handwith the banker's low hand. More specifically, when the player's highhand is stronger than the banker's high hand and the player's low handis stronger than the banker's low hand, the player wins, and when thebanker's high hand is stronger than the player's high hand and thebanker's low hand is stronger than the player's low hand, the bankerwins. When one player's hand, out of the high hand and the low hand, isstronger than the banker's corresponding hand and the other banker'shand is stronger than the player's corresponding hand, the game is tied.Determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing theplayer's high hand with the banker's high hand corresponds to a firstgame according to the present invention, while determining which hand isthe stronger of the two by comparing the player's low hand with thebanker's low hand corresponds to a second game according to the presentinvention.

Next, in step S109, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of thewinning or losing of the game determined in step S108 (hereinafter, alsoreferred to as winning/losing information) to the station 3. The station3, on receiving the winning/losing information, displays a single imagedescribing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to the liquidcrystal display 10, based on the winning/losing information.

Next, in step S110, the CPU 41 transmits normal BET payout informationto the station 3. The normal BET payout information is informationindicative of the value of a credit (currency value) to be paid out fora normal BET. More specifically, when the player wins, the CPU 41transmits information indicative of a credit value which is twice thevalue of the normal BET, and in the event of a tie, the CPU 41 transmitsinformation indicative of the same credit value as the value of thenormal BET. Also, when the banker wins, the CPU 41 transmits informationindicating that the value of a credit to be offered is 0.

Next, in step S111, the CPU 41 conducts processing for subtracting 1from the value of ‘t’.

Next, in step S112, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the value of‘t’ is 0. When the CPU 41 determines that the value of ‘t’ is not 0, theprocessing is returned to step S102.

On the other hand, when the CPU 41 determines that the value of ‘t’ is0, in step S113 in FIG. 1B, the CPU 41 determines whether or not asignal indicative of both the two Pai-Gow poker games being tied and aside BET being placed (hereinafter, also referred to as a side BETsignal) is received from the station 3. When the CPU 41 determines thatno side BET signal is received, the present main-control-portion-sideprocessing ends.

On the other hand, when the CPU 41 determines that a side BET signal isreceived, the CPU 41 receives, in step S114, selection information fromthe station 3 after the re-division of the cards.

Next, in step S115, the CPU 41 conducts processing for determiningwinning or losing of the game, based on the selection informationreceived in step S114 and the banker's high hand determined in stepS106. More specifically, the CPU 41 determines which hand is thestronger of the two by comparing the player's high hand with thebanker's high hand, and determines the one having the stronger hand tobe a winner. Determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the player's high hand after the re-division with the banker'shigh hand corresponds to a third game according to the presentinvention.

In the present embodiment, there will be described a case where thethird game according to the present invention is the same as the firstgame (the game in which the player's high hand is compared with thebanker's high hand). However, in the present invention, the third gameand the first game may be different from each other and, for example, inthe third game, a strong hand and a weak hand may be determined bycomparing the player's low hand with the banker's low hand.

Next, in step S116, the CPU 41 transmits information indicative of thewinning or losing of the game determined in step S115 (hereinafter, alsoreferred to as winning/losing information) to the station 3.

The station 3, on receiving the winning/losing information, displays animage describing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” to theliquid crystal display 10, based on the winning/losing information.

Next, in step S117, the CPU 41 transmits side BET payout information tothe station 3. The side BET payout information is information indicativeof the value of a credit (the currency value) to be paid out for theside BET. More specifically, when the player wins, the CPU 41 transmitsinformation indicative of a credit value which is twice the value of theside BET and, in the event of a tie, the CPU 41 transmits informationindicative of the same credit value as the value of the side BET. Also,when the banker wins, the CPU 41 transmits information indicating thatthe value of credits to be offered is 0.

In the present embodiment, there will be described a case where a payoutwhich is twice the value of the side BET is offered, when a side BET isplaced and the player wins the third game. However, in the presentinvention, the payout to be offered based on the side BET and the resultof the third game is not limited thereto. For example, the payout may beof a constant value or a progressive jackpot.

Further, while, in the present embodiment, there will be described acase where a credit as same the value as the side BET is paid out in theevent of a tie, no payout may be offered in the event of a tie. Afterthe execution of the processing in step S117, the presentmain-control-portion-side processing ends.

Next, there will be described the gaming machine 1 according to thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the externalstructure of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 is basically comprised ofa main monitor 2 and five stations 3 (stations 3 a to 3 e). Further,while, in the present embodiment, there will be described a case wherethe gaming machine 1 comprises a plurality of (five) stations 3, thenumber of stations included in a gaming machine may be one, in thepresent invention.

At the center portion of the main monitor 2, there is provided a frontdisplay 21 for displaying images indicating a dealer and cards. Thefront display 21 corresponds to a display according to the presentinvention. Further, on the upper side of the main monitor 2, there areprovided a plurality of speakers 22 for outputting music and an effectsound along with the progression of a game executed in the gamingmachine 1 and a plurality of LEDs 23 which are lighted during varioustypes of effects.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating theexternal-structure of a station included in the gaming machineillustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, at the center of the upper surface of thestation 3, there is provided a liquid crystal display 10 for displayingan image relating to an operation (see FIG. 5) and the like as will bedescribed later. The liquid crystal display 10 corresponds to a displayaccording to the present invention. Further, on the upper surface of theliquid crystal display 10, there is provided a touch panel 11 forinputting an operation for a BET and the like. The touch panel 11corresponds to a normal BET switch, a side BET switch and an inputswitch according to the present invention.

In front of the liquid crystal display 10, there are provided aplurality of operation buttons 12 for performing a payout operation, anda coin insertion slot 13 for inserting a coin or a medal thereto.

At the right end of the upper portion of the front surface of thestation 3, there is provided a bill insertion slot 14 for inserting abill thereto. Below the bill insertion slot 14, there is provided a coinpayout exit 15 for paying out the number of coins or medalscorresponding to the accumulated credit to the player, when a payoutoperation is performed.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed tothe front display included in a gaming machine.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the front display 21 displays a dealer image30 indicating a dealer (banker), a table image 31 indicating a table,and card images 32 indicating seven banker's cards. The card images 32are displayed facing down, when cards are dealt to the dealer. When thehigh hand and the low hand are determined, the card images 32 aredisplayed facing up. The five cards on the observer's left side in FIG.4 indicate the high hand, while the two cards on the right side indicatethe low hand.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exemplary image which is displayed to aliquid crystal display included in a station.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, at an upper portion of the liquid crystaldisplay 10, there are provided a high-hand display portion 80 fordisplaying the player's high hand and a low-hand display portion 81 fordisplaying the player's low hand. To the high-hand display portion 80and the low-hand display portion 81, there are displayed card images 82indicating the cards of the high hand and a card images 82 indicatingthe cards of the low hand, respectively, with their faces up. Under thehigh-hand display portion 80, there is provided a dealt-card displayportion 83. To the seven dotted boxes in the dealt-card display portion83, card images indicating the seven player's cards dealt to the playerare displayed with their faces up. On the right side of the dealt-carddisplay portion 83, there are provided a high-hand determination button84 and a low-hand determination button 85 for determining the cardsconstituting the high hand and the low hand. The player can determine ahigh hand by selecting cards that he or she desires to have in his orher high hand out of the cards displayed to the dealt-card displayportion 83 through the touch panel 11 and operating the high-handdetermination button 84 through the touch panel 11. The cards determinedto be included in the high hand are displayed to the high-hand displayportion 80. Similarly, the player can determine a low hand by selectingcards that he or she desires to have in his or her low hand out of thecards displayed to the dealt-card display portion 83 through the touchpanel 11 and operating the low-hand determination button 85 through thetouch panel 11.

Under the dealt-card display portion 83, there is provided a BET buttondisplay portion 86. To the BET button display portion 86, there aredisplayed BET buttons 87 for inputting the number of BETs. The playercan input the number of normal BETs and the number of side BETs byoperating the BET buttons 87 through the touch panel 11.

At the right side of the BET button display portion 86, there isprovided a number-of-normal-BETs display portion 88 for displaying thenumber of coins being betted as a normal BET. FIG. 5 illustrates that 28coins are betted. Further, in order to input a BET of 28 coins, theplayer can operate a “10” BET button 87 twice, “5” BET button 87 onceand a “1” BET button 87 three times.

At the right side of the number-of-normal-BETs display portion 88, thereis provided a number-of-side-BETs display portion 89 for displaying thenumber of coins betted as a side BET. FIG. 5 illustrates that 10 coinsare betted.

At the right side of the number-of-side-BETs display portion 89, thereis provided the number-of-credits display portion 90. FIG. 5 illustratesthat 500 coins are being credited.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of thegaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the main control portion 40 provided in thegaming machine 1 comprises a microcomputer 45 as the core, whichbasically includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, a timer 95, and a bus44 for transferring data mutually among these devices. The main controlportion 40 corresponds to a controller according to the presentinvention.

The ROM 43 stores various types of programs for conducting processingnecessary for controlling the gaming machine 1, a data table and thelike. The RAM 42 is a memory for temporarily storing various types ofdata calculated in the CPU 41. Further, the timer 95 conducts timemeasurement.

Further, the CPU 41 is connected to an image processing circuit 47, asound circuit 48, an LED driving circuit 49 and a communicationinterface 50 through an I/O interface 46.

The front display 21 included in the main monitor 2 is connected to theimage processing circuit 47. The plurality of speakers 22 included inthe main monitor 2 are connected to the sound circuit 48. The LEDs 23included in the main monitor 2 are connected to the LED driving circuit49. The five stations 3 are connected to the communication interface 50.

The CPU 41 progresses a game (Pai-Gow poker and the third game) which isexecuted in the gaming machine 1, based on game programs (including agame program for Pai-Gow poker and a program for the third game) storedin the ROM 43 and various types of signals received from the stations 3.The game program for Pai-Gow poker includes programs for the first gameand the second game. Further, the CPU 41 displays an image to the frontdisplay 21, outputs sound from the plurality of speakers 22 and lightsthe LEDs 23, based on the above-mentioned game programs. Further, theCPU 41 transmits various types of signals to the respective stations 3,based on the above-mentioned game programs.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the internal structure of astation included in the gaming machine illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the station 3 includes, as the core, amicrocomputer 55 which is basically comprised of a CPU 51, a RAM 52, aROM 53, and a bus 54 for transferring data mutually among these devices.

The ROM 53 stores various types of programs for conducting processingnecessary for controlling the station 3, data tables and the like.Further, the RAM 52 temporarily stores the number of credits currentlyaccumulated in the station 3 and various types of data calculated in theCPU 51.

Further, the CPU 51 is connected to a liquid crystal panel drivingcircuit 57, a touch panel driving circuit 58, a hopper driving circuit59, a payout completion signal circuit 60, an inserted-coin detectingsignal circuit 67, a bill detecting signal circuit 64, an operationsignal circuit 66 and a communication interface 61, through an I/Ointerface 56.

A liquid crystal display 10 is connected to the liquid crystal paneldriving circuit 57. A touch panel 11 is connected to the touch paneldriving circuit 58. A hopper 62 is connected to the hopper drivingcircuit 59. A coin detecting portion 63 is connected to the payoutcompletion signal circuit 60. An inserted-coin detecting portion 68 isconnected to the inserted-coin detecting signal circuit 67. A billdetecting portion 65 is connected to the bill detecting signal circuit64. An operation button 12 is connected to the operation signal circuit66.

The hopper 62 is provided inside the station 3 and pays out a cointhrough the coin payout exit 15 based on a control signal outputted fromthe CPU 51.

The coin detecting portion 63 is provided inside the coin payout exit 15and transmits a signal to the CPU 51 on detecting a predetermined numberof coins being paid out through the coin payout exit 15.

The inserted-coin detecting portion 68, on detecting a coin beinginserted from the coin insertion slot 13, detects the value of the coinand transmits a detecting signal indicative of the detected value to theCPU 51. The detected value of the coin is counted regarding apredetermined value defined as 1 credit and is stored in the RAM 52.

The bill detecting portion 65, on accepting a bill, detects the value ofthe bill and transmits a detecting signal indicative of the detectedvalue to the CPU 51. The detected value of the bill is counted regardinga predetermined value defined as 1 credit and is stored in the RAM 52.

The operation button 12 is a button for performing payout operations,when payout of the coin is determined.

Next, there will be described processing conducted in the main controlportion 40 and the station 3. The processing in the main control portion40 has been already described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.Therefore, only the processing conducted in the station 3 will bedescribed.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow charts illustrating the station-side processingwhich is conducted in a station according to the first embodiment.

First, in step S201 in FIG. 8A, the CPU 51 included in the station 3sets the value of ‘t’ to 2, on receiving a signal from the touch panel11, indicative of the detection of a contact, or a signal from theinserted-coin detecting portion 68, indicative of the detection of thecoin insertion. Further, the CPU 51 transmits a signal indicative ofexecuting Pai-Gow poker to the main control portion 40. Thus, the maincontrol portion 40 progresses the processing illustrated in FIGS. 1A and1B.

Next, in step S202, the CPU 51 accepts inputs of a normal BET and a sideBET. This enables the player to input a normal BET and a side BETthrough the touch panel 11 included in the station 3.

Next, in step S203, the CPU 51 transmits BET information on the inputtedBET to the main control portion 40. The main control portion 40, onreceiving the BET information, determines cards to be dealt to theplayer and the banker (see step S103 in FIG. 1A).

Next, in step S204, the CPU 51 receives to-be-dealt-card informationindicative of the cards to be dealt to the player, from the main controlportion 40.

Next, in step S205, the CPU 51 displays card images indicative of theseven player's cards to the dealt-card display portion 83 in the liquidcrystal display 10, based on the to-be-dealt cards information receivedin step S204.

Next, in step S206, the CPU 51 accepts inputs of selections of a highhand and a low hand. This enables the player to determine a high handand a low hand in the dealt cards by operating the high-handdetermination button 84 and the low-hand determination button 85 throughthe touch panel 11.

Next, in step S207, the CPU 51 transmits selection information based onthe selection of the high hand and the low hand to the main controlportion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving the selectioninformation, conducts processing for determining a high hand and a lowhand of the banker's cards and determining the winning or losing of thegame (see step S108 in FIG. 1A).

Next, in step S208, the CPU 51 receives winning/losing information fromthe main control portion 40.

Subsequently, the CPU 51 displays an image indicating any one of “youwin”, “you lose” and “tie” to the dealt-card display portion 83 in theliquid crystal display 10, for a predetermined time period (10 seconds,in the present embodiment), based on the received winning/losinginformation.

Next, in step S209, the CPU 51 receives normal BET payout informationfrom the main control portion 40. On receiving the normal BET payoutinformation, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 52, credit data based on thenormal BET payout information.

Next, in step S210, the CPU 51 pays out a credit based on the normal BETpayout information received in step S209. The processing for paying outa credit based on the normal BET payout information from the maincontrol portion 40 corresponds to processing for offering a payout basedon a normal BET and the result of determination, according to thepresent invention.

Next, in step S211, the CPU 51 conducts processing for subtracting 1from the value of ‘t’.

Next, in step S212, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the value of‘t’ is 0.

When the CPU 51 determines that the value of ‘t’ is not 0, theprocessing is returned to step S202.

On the other hand, when determining that the value of ‘t’ is 0, the CPU51 determines whether or not both the two games are tied, in step S213in FIG. 8B. When the CPU 51 determines that both the two games are nottied, the present subroutine ends.

On the other hand, when determining that both the two games are tied,the CPU 51 determines, in step S214, whether or not the side BET hasbeen inputted during the BET reception in step S202. When the CPU 51determines that a side BET is not inputted, the present subroutine ends.

On the other hand, when determining that the side BET is inputted, theCPU 51 transmits, in step S215, a side BET signal indicating that boththe two Pai-Gow poker games are tied and that the side BET is placed tothe main control portion 40.

Next, in step S216, the CPU 51 rearranges cards. More specifically, theCPU 51 displays the card images displayed to the high-hand displayportion 80 and the low-hand display portion 81 in the liquid crystaldisplay 10, to the dealt-card display portion 83, again. Namely, the CPU51 restores the player's cards divided into the high hand and the lowhand to a set of seven cards. The restored 7 cards correspond toplayer's special cards according to the present invention.

Next, in step S217, the CPU 51 accepts inputs to select the high handand the low hand. The processing in step S217 enables the player toselect the high hand and the low hand through the touch panel 11.

Next, in step S218, the CPU 51 transmits selection information to themain control portion 40. The main control portion 40, on receiving theselection information, conducts processing for determining winning orlosing of the game (see step S115 in FIG. 1B).

Next, in step S219, the CPU 51 receives winning/losing information fromthe main control portion 40. Then, the CPU 51 displays, to thedealt-card display portion 83 in the liquid crystal display 10, an imagedescribing any one of “you win”, “you lose” and “tie” for apredetermined time period (10 seconds, in the present embodiment), basedon the received winning/losing information.

Next, in step S220, the CPU 51 receives side BET payout information fromthe main control portion 40. On receiving the side BET payoutinformation, the CPU 51 stores, in the RAM 52, credit data based on theside BET payout information.

Next, in step S221, the CPU 51 pays out a credit based on the side BETpayout information received in step S220.

The processing for paying out a credit based on the side BET payoutinformation from the main control portion 40 corresponds to processingfor offering a payout when the hand of a second predetermined number ofplayer's special cards is stronger than the hand of a secondpredetermined number of banker's cards and when the side BET isinputted, according to the present invention.

After the execution of the processing in step S221, the presentsubroutine ends.

As described above, the gaming machine 1 according to the firstembodiment comprises: the front display 21 and the liquid crystaldisplay 10 (display), which are capable of displaying a plurality ofcards; the touch panel 11 (the normal BET switch, the side BET switchand the input switch) for inputting a normal BET, a side BET differentfrom the normal BET and a command for dividing cards into two sets; andthe main control portion 40 (controller). The main control portion isprogrammed to conduct the following processing of: (a) displaying sevenplayer's cards to the liquid crystal display 10 and displaying sevenbanker's cards to the front display 21; (b) accepting an input of thenormal BET from the touch panel 11; (c) accepting an input of the sideBET from the touch panel 11; (d) dividing the seven player's cards intofive player's cards and two player's cards based on an input from thetouch panel 11; (e) dividing the seven banker's cards into five banker'scards and two banker's cards; (f) determining which hand is the strongerof the two by comparing the hand of the five player's cards with thehand of the five banker's cards; (g) determining which hand is thestronger of the two by comparing the hand of the two player's cards withthe hand of the two banker's cards; (h) offering a payout based on theinputted normal BET and the result of the determination, whendetermining that the hand of five player's cards is stronger than thehand of the five banker's cards and that the hand of the two player'scards is stronger than the hand of the two banker's cards; (i) combiningthe five player's cards and the two player's cards together as sevenplayer's special cards, when determining that the hand of the fiveplayer's cards is stronger than the hand of the five banker's cards andthat the hand of the two banker's cards is stronger than the hand of thetwo player's cards, or when determining that the hand of the fivebanker's cards is stronger than the hand of the five player's cards andthat the hand of the two player's cards is stronger than the hand of thetwo banker's cards; (j) dividing the seven player's special cards intofive player's special cards and two player's special cards based on theinput from the touch panel 11; (k) determining which hand is thestronger of the two by comparing the hand of the five player's specialcards with the hand of the five banker's cards acquired by the divisionin the processing (e); and (l) offering a payout when the hand of thefive player's special cards is stronger than the hand of the fivebanker's cards and the side BET is inputted in the processing (c).

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case wherethe card game is played using the gaming machine 1, the card game may beplayed without using a gaming machine (for example, a banker and aplayer play a game around an actual table) in the present invention. Inthis case, there may be employed a playing method of a card gamecomprising the following steps of: (a) dealing a first predeterminednumber of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a firstpredetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placinga normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (d)dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cards into asecond predetermined number of player's cards and a third predeterminednumber of player's cards; (e) dividing the first predetermined number ofthe banker's cards into a second predetermined number of banker's cardsand a third predetermined number of banker's cards; (f) determiningwhich hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the secondpredetermined number of player's cards with the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger ofthe two by comparing the third predetermined number of player's cardswith the third predetermined number of banker's cards; (h) offering apayout based on the inputted normal BET and the result of thedetermination, when determining that the second predetermined number ofplayer's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and that the hand of the third predeterminednumber of player's cards is stronger than the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of banker's cards; (i) combining the secondpredetermined number of player's cards and the third predeterminednumber of player's cards together as a first predetermined number ofplayer's special cards, when determining that the hand of the secondpredetermined number of player's cards is stronger than the hand of thesecond predetermined number of banker's cards and that the hand of thethird predetermined number of banker's cards is stronger than the handof the third predetermined number of player's cards, or when determiningthat the hand of the second predetermined number of banker's cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of player'scards and that the hand of the third predetermined number of player'scards is stronger than the hand of the third predetermined number ofbanker's cards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of theplayer's special cards into a second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards and a third predetermined number of player's specialcards; (k) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards with the hand of the second predetermined number ofbanker's cards acquired by the division in step (e); and (l) offering apayout when the hand of the second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and the side BET is placed in step (c).

Second Embodiment

Next, there will be described a gaming machine according to a secondembodiment. In the following description, components corresponding tothose of the roulette gaming machine according to the first embodimentwill be designated by the same reference characters.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that, ina game played when two Pai-Gow poker games are tied, the banker's cardsare also divided again. The gaming machine according to the secondembodiment has the same external appearance, circuit structures and thelike as those of the gaming machine 1 according to the first embodiment,and images displayed thereto and processing conducted in stationsthereof are also the same as those of the gaming machine 1 according tothe first embodiment. Therefore, description thereof will not berepeated. Hereinafter, there will be described processing conducted inthe main control portion included in the gaming machine.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are flow charts illustrating themain-control-portion-side processing conducted in the main controlportion included in the gaming machine according to the secondembodiment.

Processing in steps S301 to S312 in FIG. 9A is the same as theprocessing in steps S101 to S112 in FIG. 1A in the first embodiment andtherefore, description thereof will not be repeated.

In step S313 in FIG. 9B, the CPU 41 determines whether or not a signalindicating that two Pai-Gow poker games are tied and that a side BET isplaced is received from a station 3. When the CPU 41 determines that noside BET signal is received, the present main-control-portion-sideprocessing ends.

On the other hand, when the CPU 41 determines that a side BET signal isreceived, in step S314, the CPU 41 restores the banker's cards dividedinto the high hand and the low hand to a set of seven cards. The sevencards restored in this processing correspond to the banker's specialcards according to the present invention. Then, the CPU 41 conductsprocessing for determining a high hand and a low hand, again. In thisprocessing, the CPU 41 determines a high hand and a low hand so as tohave the strongest high hand, without considering the strength of thelow hand.

The subsequent processing in steps S315 to S318 is the same as theprocessing in steps S114 to S117 in FIG. 1B in the first embodiment andtherefore, description thereof will not be repeated.

As described above, the gaming machine 1 according to the secondembodiment comprises: the front display 21 and the liquid crystaldisplay 10 (display), which are capable of displaying a plurality ofcards; the touch panel 11 (the normal BET switch, the side BET switchand the input switch) for inputting a normal BET, a side BET differentfrom the normal BET and a command for dividing cards into two sets; andthe main control portion 40 (controller). The main control portion 40 isprogrammed to conduct the following processing of: (a) displaying sevenplayer's cards to the liquid crystal display 10 and displaying sevenbanker's cards to the front display 21; (b) accepting an input of anormal BET from the touch panel 11; (c) accepting an input of a side BETfrom the touch panel 11; (d) dividing the seven player's cards into fiveplayer's cards and two player's cards based on an input from the touchpanel 11; (e) dividing the seven banker's cards into five banker's cardsand two banker's cards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger ofthe two by comparing the hand of the five player's cards with the handof the five banker's cards; (g) determining which hand is the strongerof the two by comparing the hand of the two player's cards with the handof the two banker's cards; (h) offering a payout based on the inputtednormal BET and the result of the determination, when determining thatthe hand of the five player's cards is stronger than the hand of thefive banker's cards and that the hand of the two player's cards isstronger than the hand of the two banker's cards; (i) combining the fiveplayer's cards and the two player's cards together as seven player'sspecial cards and combining the five banker's cards and the two banker'scards together as seven banker's special cards, when determining thatthe hand of the five player's cards is stronger than the hand of thefive banker's cards and that the hand of the two banker's cards isstronger than the hand of the two player's cards, or when determiningthat the hand of the five banker's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe five player's cards and that the hand of the two player's cards isstronger than the hand of the two banker's cards; (j) dividing the sevenplayer's special cards into five player's special cards and two player'sspecial cards based on the input from the touch panel 11; (k) dividingthe seven banker's special cards into five banker's special cards andtwo banker's special cards based on the input from the touch panel 11;(l) determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing thehand of the five player's special cards with the hand of the fivebanker's special cards; and (m) offering a payout when the hand of thefive player's special cards is stronger than the hand of the fivebanker's special cards and a side BET is inputted in the above-mentionedprocessing (c).

While, in the present embodiment, there has been described a case wherethe card game is played using the gaming machine 1, the card game may beplayed without using a gaming machine (for example, a banker and aplayer may play a game around an actual table) in the present invention.In this case, there may be employed a playing method of a card gamecomprising the following steps of: (a) dealing a first predeterminednumber of cards to a player as player's cards and dealing a firstpredetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b) placinga normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from the normal BET; (d)dividing the first predetermined number of the player's cards into asecond predetermined number of player's cards and a third predeterminednumber of player's cards; (e) dividing the first predetermined number ofthe banker's cards into a second predetermined number of banker's cardsand a third predetermined number of banker's cards; (f) determiningwhich hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the secondpredetermined number of player's cards with the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger ofthe two by comparing the third predetermined number of player's cardswith the third predetermined number of banker's cards; (h) offering apayout based on the inputted normal BET and the result of thedetermination, when determining that the hand of the secondpredetermined number of player's cards is stronger than the hand of thesecond predetermined number of banker's cards and that the hand of thethird predetermined number of player's cards is stronger than the handof the third predetermined number of banker's cards; (i) combining thesecond predetermined number of player's cards and the thirdpredetermined number of player's cards together as a first predeterminednumber of player's special cards and combining the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and the third predetermined number of banker'scards together as a first predetermined number of banker's specialcards, when determining that the hand of the second predetermined numberof player's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and that the hand of the third predeterminednumber of banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of player's cards, or when determining that thehand of the second predetermined number of banker's cards is strongerthan the hand of the second predetermined number of player's cards andthat the hand of the third predetermined number of player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of banker'scards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of the player'sspecial cards into a second predetermined number of player's specialcards and a third predetermined number of player's special cards; (k)dividing the first predetermined number of the banker's special cardsinto a second predetermined number of banker's special cards and a thirdpredetermined number of banker's special cards; (l) determining whichhand is the stronger of the two by comparing the hand of the secondpredetermined number of player's special cards with the hand of thesecond predetermined number of banker's special cards; and (m) offeringa payout when the hand of the second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and the side BET is placed in theabove-mentioned step (c).

Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there havebeen described cases where the seven player's cards and the sevenbanker's cards are respectively divided into a set of five cards and aset of two cards. However, in the present invention, the number of cardsbefore dividing into two sets (the first predetermined number) and thenumber of cards in each set after the division of cards into two sets(the second predetermined number and the third predetermined number) arenot limited thereto.

Further, while, in the second embodiment, there has been described acase where the third game according to the present invention is the sameas the first game (the game in which the player's high hand is comparedwith the banker's high hand), the third game according to the secondaspect of the present invention is not limited thereto. The third gamemay be a game in which the number of cards different from the numbers ofcards for the first game and for the second game is selected as cardsfor the third game, and a hand of selected player's cards is comparedwith a hand of selected banker's cards.

While, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, cards arere-divided in the event that both the two games are tied, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. For example, cards may be re-dividedin the event that a single game is tied or that three or more games aretied.

While, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there havebeen described cases where a dealer serves as a banker, in the presentinvention, a single player may serve as a banker when a plurality ofplayers take part in the game.

While, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there havebeen described cases where Pai-Gow poker is played, a game to be playedis not particularly limited in the present invention, as long as thegame is played by dividing player's cards and banker's cardsrespectively into two sets and using these player's cards and banker'scards divided into two sets.

While, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there havebeen described cases where playing cards are used to play a game, thecards (player's cards and banker's cards) according to the presentinvention are not limited to playing cards, but may be, for example,tarot cards.

While, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, there havebeen described cases where players play Pai-Gow poker by viewing themain monitor 2 and the liquid crystal displays 10 included in thestations, the gaming machine according to the present invention is onlyrequired to include either a main monitor or liquid crystal displays(displays included in the stations). In the case of this structure, thedealer's cards (the banker's cards) and the player's cards may bedisplayed together to the main monitor or the displays in the stations.

Although the present invention has been described with reference toembodiments thereof, these embodiments merely illustrate concreteexamples, not restrict the present invention. The concrete structures ofrespective means and the like can be designed and changed as required.Furthermore, there have been merely described most preferable effects ofthe present invention, as the effects of the present invention, in theembodiments of the present invention. The effects of the presentinvention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of thepresent invention.

Further, in the aforementioned detailed description, characteristicportions have been mainly described, for ease of understanding thepresent invention. The present invention is not limited to theembodiments described in the aforementioned detailed description, butcan be also applied to other embodiments over a wider range ofapplications. Further, the terms and phrases used in the presentspecification have been used for clearly describing the presentinvention, not for limiting the interpretation of the present invention.Further, those skilled in the art will easily conceive other structures,systems, methods and the like which are included in the concept of thepresent invention, from the concept of the present invention describedin the present specification. Accordingly, the description of the claimsis intended to include equivalent structures that fall within thetechnical scope of the invention. Further, the abstract aims at enablingengineers and the like who belong to the present technical field but arenot familiar with the patent office and public institutions, the patent,law terms and technical terms to immediately understand the technicalcontent and the essence of the present application through briefstudies. Accordingly, the abstract is not intended to restrict the scopeof the invention which should be evaluated from the description of theclaims. It is desirable that literatures and the like which have beenalready disclosed are sufficiently studied and understood, in order tosufficiently understand the objects of the present invention and thespecific effects of the present invention.

In the aforementioned detailed description, there have been describedprocesses to be executed by computers. The aforementioned descriptionand expressions have been described for the sake of enabling thoseskilled in the art to understand the present invention most effectively.In the present specification, each step for deriving a single resultshould be understood to be self-consistent processing. Further, eachstep includes transmission, reception, recording and the like ofelectric or magnetic signals. Although, in the processing at each step,such signals have been expressed as bits, values, symbols, characters,terms, numerical characters and the like, it should be noticed that theyhave been merely used for convenience of description. Further, althoughthe processing at each step was described using expressions common tohuman behaviors in some cases, the processes described in the presentspecification are to be executed by various types of devices, inprinciple. Further, other structures required for conducting each stepwill be apparent from the aforementioned description.

1. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealinga predetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards anddealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards;(b) placing a side BET different from a normal BET; (c) dividing thepredetermined number of said player's cards and the predetermined numberof said banker's cards into two sets of cards respectively; (d)determining winning or losing of a game by comparing hands of saidplayer's cards divided into two sets with hands of said banker's cardsdivided into two sets; (e) selecting cards out of the predeterminednumber of said player's cards, when determining that the game is tied insaid step (d) and the side BET is placed in said step (b); and (f)determining winning or losing of the game by comparing the hand of saidplayer's cards selected in said step (e) and the hand of said banker'scards of the same number.
 2. The playing method of a card game accordingto claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises the step of (d′) determiningwinning or losing of the game following the rule of Pai-Gow poker bycomparing the hands of said player's cards divided into two sets withthe hands of said banker's cards divided into two sets.
 3. The playingmethod of a card game according to claim 1, wherein said step (e)comprises the step of (e′) selecting the same number of cards out of thepredetermined number of said player's cards and the predetermined numberof said banker's cards respectively, when determining that the game istied in said step (d) and a side BET is placed in said step (b), andsaid step (f) comprises the step of (f′) determining winning or losingof the game by comparing the hand of said player's cards selected insaid step (e′) with the hand of said banker's cards selected in saidstep (e′).
 4. A playing method of a card game comprising the steps of:(a) dealing a predetermined number of cards to a player as player'scards and dealing a predetermined number of cards to a banker asbanker's cards; (b) placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BETdifferent from said normal BET; (d) dividing the predetermined number ofsaid player's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a secondgame different from said first game in type; (e) dividing thepredetermined number of said banker's cards into cards for said firstgame and cards for said second game; (f) determining a result of saidfirst game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for said firstgame with the hand of said banker's cards for said first game; (g)determining the result of said second game by comparing the hand of saidplayer's cards for said second game with the hand of said banker's cardsfor said second game; (h) offering a payout based on said normal BET andthe result of the games, when both said first game and said second gameresult in winning of the player; (i) restoring the cards divided in saidstep (d) to the predetermined number of said player's cards, when saidfirst game and said second game result in different winners; (j)selecting cards for a third game out of said player's cards acquired insaid step (i); (k) determining the result of said third game bycomparing the hand of said player's cards for said third game acquiredin said step (j) with the hand of said banker's cards for said firstgame acquired in said step (e); and (l) offering the payout based onsaid inputted side BET and the result of the game, when said third gamein said step (k) results in winning of the player.
 5. A playing methodof a card game comprising the steps of: (a) dealing a firstpredetermined number of cards to a player as player's cards and dealinga first predetermined number of cards to a banker as banker's cards; (b)placing a normal BET; (c) placing a side BET different from said normalBET; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of said player's cardsinto a second predetermined number of player's cards and a thirdpredetermined number of player's cards; (e) dividing the firstpredetermined number of said banker's cards into a second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and a third predetermined number of banker'scards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of said player'scards with the hand of the second predetermined number of said banker'scards; g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparingthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards withthe hand of the third predetermined number of said banker's cards; (h)offering a payout based on said inputted normal BET and the result ofthe determination, when determining that the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said player's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe second predetermined number of said banker's cards and that the handof the third predetermined number of said player's cards is strongerthan the hand of the third predetermined number of said banker's cards;(i) combining the second predetermined number of said player's cards andthe third predetermined number of said player's cards together as afirst predetermined number of player's special cards, when determiningthat the hand of the second predetermined number of said player's cardsis stronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards and that the hand of the third predetermined number ofsaid banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the third predeterminednumber of said player's cards, or when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said banker's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of saidplayer's special cards into a second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards and a third predetermined number of player's specialcards; (k) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of said player'sspecial cards with the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards acquired by the division in said step (e); and (l)offering a payout, when the hand of the second predetermined number ofsaid player's special cards is stronger than the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said banker's cards and the side BET is placedin said step (c).
 6. A playing method of a card game comprising thesteps of: (a) dealing a first predetermined number of cards to a playeras player's cards and dealing a first predetermined number of cards to abanker as banker's cards; (b) placing a normal BET; (c) placing a sideBET different from said normal BET; (d) dividing the first predeterminednumber of said player's cards into a second predetermined number ofplayer's cards and a third predetermined number of player's cards; (e)dividing the first predetermined number of said banker's cards into asecond predetermined number of banker's cards and a third predeterminednumber of banker's cards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger ofthe two by comparing the hand of the second predetermined number of saidplayer's cards with the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the third predetermined number of said player'scards with the hand of the third predetermined number of said banker'scards; (h) offering a payout based on said inputted normal BET and theresult of the determination, when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said player's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said banker's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (i) combining the second predetermined number of saidplayer's cards and the third predetermined number of said player's cardstogether as a first predetermined number of player's special cards, andcombining the second predetermined number of said banker's cards and thethird predetermined number of said banker's cards together as a firstpredetermined number of banker's special cards, when determining thatthe hand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards and that the hand of the third predetermined number ofsaid banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the third predeterminednumber of said player's cards, or when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said banker's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of saidplayer's special cards into a second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards and a third predetermined number of player's specialcards; (k) dividing the first predetermined number of said banker'sspecial cards into a second predetermined number of banker's specialcards and a third predetermined number of banker's special cards; (l)determining which hand is the stronger of the two by comparing the handof the second predetermined number of said player's special cards withthe hand of the second predetermined number of said banker's specialcards; and (m) offering a payout, when the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said player's special cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said banker's special cardsand the side BET is placed in said step (c).
 7. A gaming machinecomprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality of cards; aninput device; and a controller, said controller programmed to conductthe processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number of player'scards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to said display; (b)accepting a side BET different from a normal BET from said input device;(c) dividing the predetermined number of said player's cards and thepredetermined number of said banker's cards into two sets of cardsrespectively, based on an input from said input device; (d) determiningwinning or losing of the game by comparing hands of said player's cardsdivided into two sets and hands of said banker's cards divided into twosets; (e) selecting cards out of the predetermined number of saidplayer's cards, based on the input from said input device, whendetermining that the game is tied in said processing (d) and the sideBET is placed in said processing (b); and (f) determining winning orlosing of the game by comparing the hand of said player's cards selectedin said processing (e) with the hand of said banker's cards of the samenumber.
 8. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein saidprocessing (d) comprises processing of (d′) determining winning orlosing of the game following the rule of Pai-Gow poker by comparing thehands of said player's cards divided into two sets and the hands of saidbanker's cards divided into two sets.
 9. The gaming machine according toclaim 7, wherein said processing (e) comprises processing of (e′)selecting the same number of cards out of the predetermined number ofsaid player's cards and the predetermined number of said banker's cardsrespectively, based on an input from said input device, when determiningthat the game is tied in said processing (d) and the side BET is placedin said processing (b), and said processing (f) comprises processing of(f′) determining winning or losing of the game by comparing the hand ofsaid player's cards selected in said processing (e′) and the hand ofsaid banker's cards selected in said processing (e′).
 10. A gamingmachine comprising: a display capable of displaying a plurality ofcards; an input device; and a controller, said controller programmed toconduct the processing of: (a) displaying a predetermined number ofplayer's cards and a predetermined number of banker's cards to saiddisplay; (b) accepting an input of a normal BET from said input device;(c) accepting an input of a side BET different from said normal BET,from said input device; (d) dividing the predetermined number of saidplayer's cards into cards for a first game and cards for a second gamedifferent from said first game in type, based on an input from saidinput device; (e) dividing the predetermined number of said banker'scards into cards for said first game and cards for said second game; (f)determining the result of said first game by comparing the hand of saidplayer's cards for said first game with the hand of said banker's cardsfor said first game; (g) determining the result of said second game bycomparing the hand of said player's cards for said second game with thehand of said banker's cards for said second game; (h) offering a payoutbased on said inputted normal BET and the result of the games, when bothsaid first game and said second game result in winning of the player;(i) restoring the cards divided in said processing (d) to thepredetermined number of said player's cards, when said first game andsaid second game result in different winners; (j) selecting cards for athird game out of said player's cards acquired in said processing (i),based on the input from said input device; (k) determining the result ofsaid third game by comparing the hand of said player's cards for saidthird game acquired in said processing (j) with the hand of saidbanker's cards for said first game acquired in said processing (e); and(l) offering a payout based on said inputted side BET and the result ofthe game, when said third game in said processing (k) results in winningof the player.
 11. A gaming machine comprising: a display capable ofdisplaying a plurality of cards; a normal BET switch for inputting anormal BET; a side BET switch for inputting a side BET different fromsaid normal BET; an input switch for inputting a command for dividingcards into two sets; and a controller, said controller programmed toconduct the processing of: (a) displaying a first predetermined numberof player's cards and a first predetermined number of banker's cards tosaid display; (b) accepting an input of a normal BET from said normalBET switch; (c) accepting an input of a side BET from said side BETswitch; (d) dividing the first predetermined number of said player'scards into a second predetermined number of player's cards and a thirdpredetermined number of player's cards, based on an input from saidinput switch; (e) dividing the first predetermined number of saidbanker's cards into a second predetermined number of banker's cards anda third predetermined number of banker's cards; (f) determining whichhand is the stronger of the two by comparing the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said player's cards with the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said banker's cards; (g) determining which handis the stronger of the two by comparing the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of said player's cards with the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of said banker's cards; (h) offering a payout basedon said inputted normal BET and the result of the determination, whendetermining that the hand of the second predetermined number of saidplayer's cards is stronger than the hand of the second predeterminednumber of said banker's cards and that the hand of the thirdpredetermined number of said player's cards is stronger than the hand ofthe third predetermined number of said banker's cards; (i) combining thesecond predetermined number of said player's cards and the thirdpredetermined number of said player's cards together as a firstpredetermined number of player's special cards, when determining thatthe hand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards and that the hand of the third predetermined number ofsaid banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the third predeterminednumber of said player's cards, or when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said banker's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of saidplayer's special cards into a second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards and a third predetermined number of player's specialcards, based on the input from said input switch; (k) determining whichhand is the stronger of the two by comparing the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said player's special cards with the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said banker's cards acquired by thedivision in said processing (e); and (l) offering the payout, when thehand of the second predetermined number of said player's special cardsis stronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards and the side BET is inputted in said processing (c). 12.A gaming machine comprising: a display capable of displaying a pluralityof cards; a normal BET switch for inputting a normal BET; a side BETswitch for inputting a side BET different from said normal BET; an inputswitch for inputting a command for dividing cards into two sets; and acontroller, said controller programmed to conduct the processing of: (a)displaying a first predetermined number of player's cards and a firstpredetermined number of banker's cards to said display; (b) accepting aninput of a normal BET from said normal BET switch; (c) accepting aninput of a side BET from said side BET switch; (d) dividing the firstpredetermined number of said player's cards into a second predeterminednumber of player's cards and a third predetermined number of player'scards, based on an input from said input switch; (e) dividing the firstpredetermined number of said banker's cards into a second predeterminednumber of banker's cards and a third predetermined number of banker'scards; (f) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the second predetermined number of said player'scards with the hand of the second predetermined number of said banker'scards; (g) determining which hand is the stronger of the two bycomparing the hand of the third predetermined number of said player'scards with the hand of the third predetermined number of said banker'scards; (h) offering a payout based on said inputted normal BET and theresult of the determination, when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said player's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said banker's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (i) combining the second predetermined number of saidplayer's cards and the third predetermined number of said player's cardstogether as a first predetermined number of player's special cards, andcombining the second predetermined number of said banker's cards and thethird predetermined number of said banker's cards together as a firstpredetermined number of banker's special cards, when determining thatthe hand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the second predetermined number of saidbanker's cards and that the hand of the third predetermined number ofsaid banker's cards is stronger than the hand of the third predeterminednumber of said player's cards, or when determining that the hand of thesecond predetermined number of said banker's cards is stronger than thehand of the second predetermined number of said player's cards and thatthe hand of the third predetermined number of said player's cards isstronger than the hand of the third predetermined number of saidbanker's cards; (j) dividing the first predetermined number of saidplayer's special cards into a second predetermined number of player'sspecial cards and a third predetermined number of player's specialcards, based on the input from said input switch; (k) dividing the firstpredetermined number of said banker's special cards into a secondpredetermined number of banker's special cards and a third predeterminednumber of banker's special cards; (l) determining which hand is thestronger of the two by comparing the hand of the second predeterminednumber of said player's special cards with the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said banker's special cards; and (m) offeringthe payout, when the hand of the second predetermined number of saidplayer's special cards is stronger than the hand of the secondpredetermined number of said banker's special cards and the side BET isinputted in said processing (c).